Stratford-on-Avon Tennis Club completed another double, as they added the Pairs “Shield” to their earlier Premier Division title and championship of the South Warwickshire Summer Tennis League. They did so by defeating Division One side Bidford-on-Avon in the final. This feat was achieved at the League’s Annual Pairs Tournament sponsored by the League’s President Tony King of Alcester, with balls supplied by “Inspire2Coach”.
The League Tournament was split into three competitions with the top third of the League playing for the “Shield” trophy, the middle third for the “Plate” trophy and the remaining teams playing in the “Cup” competition. All Pool games consisted of 7 games duration with a point awarded for any games won. Held at Stratford Tennis Club, Shipston-on-Stour ran out winners of the “Plate” while Henley B won the “Cup” trophy.
In Pool A of the “Shield” competition, Stratford pair Ralf Neilson & Callum Bailey always looked dominant as they beat Chipping Campden 5-2, Pershore 5-2, Inkberrow 6-1 and finally, Henley without dropping a point 7-0. This gave them a total of 23 points. Their nearest rivals Henley (16) and Inkberrow (15) were distant runners up.
In Pool B of the “Shield” the Division One Bidford pair Matt Saunders & Tristan Gretton surprised the two Premier Division sides they met with their determined and skilful play. First they beat fellow Division One sides Whitnash 5-2 and Alcester 5-2. However, they didn’t stop there and went on to defeat not only Premier side Moreton-in-Marsh 6-1, but also the League Runners-up Evesham pair Simon Wall & John Clarke in a close match 4-3 to earn their place in the final. Bidford on 20 points also left their nearest rivals Evesham and Moreton both on 15 points in their wake.
The “Plate” competition also saw two Pools compete and the winners of each rewarded with a place in the Final. Again two teams dominated proceedings. In Pool A Shipston pair Roy Malik and Cameron Malik emerged triumphant with 23 points defeating Alcester B 6-1, Littleton B 6-1, FISSC A 5-2 and Studley B 6-1. Runners-up were FISSC A with only 16 points.
In Pool B of the “Plate” it was Harbury pair Adam Crossling and Marcus Sharpe who called the tune beating FISSC B 6-1, Studley A 5-2, Campden B 5-2 and Snitterfield 5-2 to amass 21 points. FISSC B finished second on 17 while Snitterfield were third with 16 points. So the “Plate” Final would take place between Harbury and Shipston.
Finally, the “Cup” trophy suffered a withdrawal as a player fell ill. This meant a reshuffle and all teams played round robin matches against each other with no final. The winners and runners-up would be decided by which team topped the round robin table. A four-way battle seemed to develop early on between Wildmoor Spa A and B plus Henley B and Alcester C. With the latter falling by the wayside the result went down to the final matches. In the end it was Henley B pair Max Retallack and Chris Kirby who topped the table as Champions with 25 points after beating Wildmoor A 4-3, Wildmoor B 4-3, Claverdon C 7-0, Henley C 7-0 but losing to Alcester C 3-4. Wildmoor B came a close second with 23 points but had the consolation of beating their sister team Wildmoor A 4-3. Wildmoor A came in third with 22 points and Alcester C fourth on 20 points.
In the two remaining finals Shipston’s Malik brothers triumphed over Harbury’s Crossling and Sharpe 6-3 to lift the “Plate” competition. Meanwhile the Stratford duo of Ralf Nielson and Callum Bailey proved just too strong for Bidford’s Saunders and Gretton taking the “Shield” title 6-1.
Following the Tournament there was a presentation ceremony at which Warwickshire Lawn Tennis Association Secretary and League Chairman Tony Eskew presented all the League winners trophies from the summer season while the League President and Tournament sponsor Tony King awarded the Annual Pairs Tournament trophies. League winners were Stratford for the Premier Division, Pershore for Division One, FISSC for Division Two, Snitterfield for Division Three, Wildmoor for Division Four and finally Henley B for Division Five.
Two surprise awards were made by the league to Tony King for 20 years of sponsorship of the tournament and to the League Secretary Corin Bishop for his service in founding and running the league for the last 21 years since its formation in 1990.